Which Bluehost Plan is Best in 2024: Basic vs Choice Plus vs Online Store vs Pro

Last Updated on January 29, 2024

Choosing the right web hosting plan is a crucial decision that can have a significant impact on the success of your online presence.

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to navigate the sea of hosting providers and plans.

Bluehost, a popular web hosting provider, offers a variety of plans designed to cater to different website needs and budgets.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll demystify the differences between Bluehost plans, helping you make an informed decision that best suits your requirements and sets your website up for success.

From shared hosting plans tailored for beginners to dedicated hosting options for large-scale websites, Bluehost has something for everyone.

We’ll delve into the features, Bluehost pricing, performance, and reliability of each plan, as well as discuss the additional benefits and services offered by Bluehost.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of which Bluehost plan is the best fit for your website’s needs and future growth.

Short Summary

• Bluehost offers a range of hosting plans with different features and prices, plus discounts for first-time buyers.

• Comparing Bluehost plans is essential to selecting the one that best meets website needs, budget, and growth potential.

• Benefits include free domain registration, SSL certificates & website migration services for improved performance & reliability.

Related: Bluehost discounts

Understanding Bluehost Hosting Plans

Bluehost offers a variety of hosting plans, including shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress, and WooCommerce hosting, each with different features and pricing to cater to various website needs.

Whether you’re a beginner launching your first blog or an established business owner looking to scale your online presence, Bluehost has a plan to suit your needs and budget.

Related: is Bluehost good for blogging?

In the following sections, we’ll explore the different hosting options available through Bluehost, including shared hosting plans for those just starting out, VPS and dedicated hosting for more resource-intensive websites, and WordPress and WooCommerce hosting for specialized needs.

We’ll also discuss the pricing breakdown, including first-time discounts and renewal rates, as well as the importance of considering performance and reliability when choosing a hosting plan.

Related: why choose Bluehost

Shared Hosting Plans

Bluehost shared hosting is the most economical hosting service available from Bluehost.

It is well-suited for those just starting out, small businesses, and bloggers with minimal website traffic and basic website requirements.

Shared hosting provides the necessary resources to host up to 5 websites at an affordable cost, making it an ideal hosting service for small websites.

Bluehost shared hosting used to come with unlimited websites but Bluehost has since changed it to up to 5 websites depending on the Bluehost hosting plan you choose.

When it comes to a Bluehost shared hosting plan there are some limitations.

As your website shares server resources with other websites on the same server, it can be vulnerable to other sites using up too many shared resources, which could potentially cause your site to crash.

Bluehost’s shared hosting services offer an initial discount when you buy hosting from Bluehost of up to 73% per month and a renewal rate as low as $9.99 per month depending on the shared hosting package you choose.

Related: cheap web hosting coupon codes

VPS Hosting Plans

VPS (virtual private server) hosting provides increased resources and control in comparison to shared hosting, making it ideal for sites with greater traffic and performance requirements.

Bluehost VPS hosting offers increased CPU and RAM memory, resulting in enhanced server performance. Additionally, it utilizes SSD drives, which are faster than traditional hard drives, thereby improving speed.

Bluehost’s most cost-effective VPS plan starts at $29.99 per month when selecting a 12-month term. This plan offers 120GB SSD storage, 2 GB RAM, and 2 Core CPU, making it suitable for scaling up a website.

If you’re looking for more control and resources for your growing website, VPS hosting might be the right choice for you.

Related: VPS hosting promo codes

Dedicated Hosting Plans

Dedicated hosting plans are the most powerful option for large websites and businesses with significant traffic.

Bluehost’s dedicated server hosting services start at $89.98 per month with a 12-month subscription, with renewals at $125.99 per month.

If your website requires the highest level of performance and control, a dedicated server might be the ideal solution for your needs.

WordPress Hosting Plans

WordPress hosting plans are specifically designed for WordPress websites, providing automatic updates, security features, and improved performance.

Related: how to start a WordPress blog on Bluehost

Bluehost shared WordPress hosting services offer automatic WordPress updates, automatic Bluehost WordPress installation, and a WordPress staging environment.

Bluehost shared WordPress hosting services start at $2.95 per month when you sign up for Bluehost with a 12-month subscription, with subsequent renewals priced as low as $9.99 a month depending on the term you choose.

If you’re a WordPress user looking for an optimized hosting environment tailored for the platform, Bluehost’s WordPress hosting plans could be the perfect fit for your website.

Something to note: Bluehost used to offer Bluehost Managed WordPress hosting but now only offers WordPress hosting.

Woocommerce Hosting Plans

For those running online stores using WordPress and WooCommerce, Bluehost offers WooCommerce hosting plans tailored for eCommerce websites.

These plans provide eCommerce-specific features and optimizations, ensuring a seamless online shopping experience for your customers.

Prices for WooCommerce hosting plans start at $9.95 per month, making them an affordable option for online sellers when getting a Bluehost account.

Related: is Bluehost good for Ecommerce?

Bluehost Shared Hosting Comparison

Now let’s dive in and compare each of the Bluehost shared hosting plans that you can choose from so you know which Bluehost plan is best based on your needs.

Basic Plan Review

The Basic plan is Bluehost’s cheapest shared hosting option, ideal for hosting a single website with limited features.

It provides 10 GB of SSD storage, 5 email accounts with 100 MB of storage, hosting for one domain, 5 parked domains, 25 subdomains, and does not include Malware Scanning, Domain Privacy, or daily website backup also known as Bluehost Codeguard Basic as part of Bluehost’s hosting services.

Related: is Bluehost Domain Privacy Protection worth it?

This plan is well-suited for bloggers, affiliate marketers, small business owners, and those with a limited budget and only one Bluehost website to host.

The Basic plan permits only one website to be hosted on the account and provides limited functionalities as part of Bluehost’s hosting services.

Priced at $2.95 per month, it’s an affordable option for those just starting out or with limited hosting needs.

Related: Bluehost $2.95 per month

Choice Plus Plan

The Choice Plus plan takes shared hosting a step further by offering more features, including 40 GB SSD Storage, up to 3 websites, unlimited email accounts, domain privacy, malware scanning, and daily backups for the 1st year.

Related: how to add addon domain in Bluehost

This Bluehost plan is suitable for bloggers, affiliate marketers, WordPress users, freelancers, small or medium business owners, and those seeking security and backup options as part of Bluehost’s hosting services.

Related: is Bluehost good for small business?

The price for the Choice Plus plan runs as low as $5.45 a month.

Related: does Bluehost charge monthly or all at once?

With the added features and benefits, it’s an excellent option for those looking to grow their online presence and benefit from the additional security and backup features.

Something to note: You use to be able to host unlimited websites with this plan but has since changed to 3.

Online Store Plan Review

For those looking to set up an eCommerce website, Bluehost’s Online Store plan is available from $9.95/month and includes the WooCommerce online store builder as part of their hosting services.

This Bluehost plan is designed specifically for eCommerce websites, offering WooCommerce integration and supplementary features for online sellers, making it a solid choice for both novice and expanding businesses.

The plan includes a Bluehost free domain name, 40 GB SSD storage, unmetered bandwidth, unlimited email accounts, multi channel inventory management, and a Bluehost free SSL certificate.

Something to note: You use to be able to host unlimited websites but has since changed to 3 websites.

Pro Plan Review

The Pro plan is the most advanced shared hosting service from Bluehost, designed to handle high-traffic sites, and is ideal for eCommerce websites.

The Pro plan includes a range of features. Additionally, it offers high-performance servers, unlimited email accounts, dedicated IP, site backups option, malware scanning, and domain privacy.

This Bluehost plan is one of the most feature-rich shared hosting service options with Bluehost hosting.

Something to note: You used to be able to host unlimited websites but has changed to 5 websites.

Bluehost Pricing Breakdown

When considering a Bluehost plan, it’s essential to understand the pricing breakdown.

This includes first-time discounts that offer significant savings on initial hosting plan purchases, renewal rates that are typically higher than the discounted rates, and potential hidden costs and add-ons that may be included during the checkout process.

Being aware of these factors can help you make an informed decision about the most suitable plan for your website and budget.

First-time Discounts

First-time discounts are available for new customers, offering significant savings on initial hosting plan purchases.

You can purchase a Bluehost hosting plan at a discounted rate of $2.95 per month.

These discounts provide an excellent opportunity for new customers to start their online journey with a reliable hosting provider at a reduced cost.

Renewal Rates

It’s important to consider the long-term costs of hosting, as renewal rates tend to be higher than the initial discounted rates.

For example, Bluehost’s renewal rates for shared hosting plans range from $9.99 to $26.99 per month depending on the term you go with.

Keep this in mind when choosing a plan, as the ongoing costs may impact your budget over time.

Hidden Costs and Add-ons

Hidden costs and add-ons may be included during the checkout process, so be aware of these potential extra charges.

For example, Bluehost may present upselling costs and add-on costs during the checkout process, such as Codeguard Basic, Domain Privacy, Bluehost SiteLock Security Essentials, Bluehost Yoast SEO Premium, Single Domain SSL Bluehost, and Bluehost Google Workspace Business Starter.

To avoid unexpected charges, carefully review the checkout page and deselect any Bluehost package extras that you do not wish to include in your plan.

Comparing Bluehost Plans: Basic vs Plus vs Choice Plus vs Online Store vs Pro

Comparing Bluehost plans can help you determine the best option based on your website needs, budget, and growth potential.

By understanding the differences between the Basic, Plus, Choice Plus, Online Store, and Pro plans, you can make an informed decision and select the plan that offers the best value for your specific requirements.

Each plan has its own unique features and benefits, so it’s important to consider your needs.

Let’s dive in to the Bluehost shared hosting plans comparison.

Bluehost Basic vs Plus Plan

When comparing the Basic and Plus plans, the most significant difference is the ability to host multiple websites with the Plus plan.

While the Basic plan is cost-effective and appropriate for straightforward websites, the Plus plan facilitates hosting multiple sites on a single account, offering unlimited websites, unlimited storage, and unmetered bandwidth.

If you plan on hosting more than one website or require additional features, upgrading to the Plus plan is a wise investment.

For a slightly higher cost, you can benefit from the added flexibility and features that the Plus plan provides, ensuring that your website can continue to grow and thrive.

Plus vs Choice Plus Plan

The Choice Plus plan offers additional features like domain privacy, malware scanning, and daily backups for the 1st year, at a rate similar to the Plus plan.

These added features can provide increased security and peace of mind, especially for growing websites that require more robust protection and backup options.

Considering the added value provided by the Choice Plus plan, it’s an excellent option for those looking to host multiple websites and benefit from the additional security and backup features, all at a comparable price to the Plus plan.

Choice Plus vs Pro Plan

The Bluehost Choice Plus and Pro plans vary in a key way. While the Pro plan includes a dedicated IP address and optimized resources for faster site speed and performance, the Choice Plus plan does not offer this feature.

Additionally, the Pro plan is more expensive than the Choice Plus plan, but it offers superior performance and security capabilities for high-traffic websites.

If your website requires the highest level of performance and control, the Pro plan might be the ideal solution for your needs.

With a dedicated IP address and advanced security features, the Pro plan is designed to accommodate high-traffic websites that require more resources and better performance.

Bluehost Performance and Reliability

The performance and reliability of your web hosting provider are crucial factors to consider when choosing a hosting plan.

After all, your website’s performance can directly impact user experience, search engine rankings, and ultimately, the success of your online presence.

Related: is Bluehost SEO Tools Start worth it?

Bluehost is known for its reliable web hosting services too, boasting a 99.99% uptime guarantee and fast loading times.

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Speed and Uptime

Speed and uptime are essential for website performance, with Bluehost offering a 99.99% uptime guarantee and fast loading times.

A fast, reliable website can significantly improve user experience and contribute to better search engine rankings.

In fact, research shows that a one-second decrease in website speed can lead to a 7% reduction in conversion rate, while a three-second delay can result in a 50% drop in traffic.

With Bluehost’s commitment to speed and uptime, you can ensure that your website remains accessible and performs at its best.

Customer Support

Customer support is an essential aspect to consider when selecting a hosting provider, and Bluehost offers 24/7 assistance through live chat and phone support.

This ensures that you can get the help you need when you need it, whether you’re experiencing technical issues or simply have questions about your hosting plan.

By choosing a hosting provider with reliable customer support, you can ensure a smoother hosting experience and focus on growing your online presence.

Related: how to cancel Bluehost

Additional Features and Benefits

In addition to the variety of hosting plans and pricing options, Bluehost also offers a range of additional features and benefits that can enhance your website’s functionality and performance.

These include free domain registration, free SSL certificates, Bluehost marketing offers, and website migration services, all designed to make the process of setting up and maintaining your website as seamless as possible.

Related: how to build a website with Bluehost

Free Domain Registration

Bluehost offers free domain registration for the first year with all hosting plans.

This means that when you sign up for a new hosting account, you can also register a new domain or transfer an existing domain for free for one year.

This added benefit can save you money and streamline the process of setting up your website, allowing you to focus on creating great content and growing your online presence.

Related: 10 outstanding ideas for your website content

SSL Certificates

SSL certificates are included with all Bluehost plans, providing website security and trustworthiness.

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates your website and uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to encrypt information sent to the server, ensuring that all data passed between the web server and browsers remains private and secure.

By including SSL certificates with their hosting plans, Bluehost ensures that your website’s visitors can trust your site and feel confident in the security of their data.

Website Migration Services

For those looking to switch hosting providers, Bluehost offers website migration services to make the transition smooth and hassle-free.

These services assist with the transfer of sites, files, databases, and email accounts to another server, ensuring that your website remains functional and accessible throughout the migration process.

By offering these services, Bluehost helps minimize downtime and disruption, allowing you to focus on what matters most: growing your website and online presence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between the Basic and Plus plans?

The main difference between the Basic and Plus plans is that the Plus plan allows for multiple website hosting, whereas the Basic plan is limited to just one.

Is it worth upgrading from the Plus to the Choice Plus plan?

Upgrading to the Choice Plus plan is worth it, as it offers additional features like domain privacy and daily backups at a similar price to the Plus plan.

What is the uptime guarantee provided by Bluehost?

Bluehost guarantees 99.99% uptime for your website, ensuring it remains accessible and running smoothly.

Are SSL certificates included with all Bluehost plans?

Yes, all Bluehost plans come with SSL certificates to ensure secure and trustworthy websites.

What is basic Bluehost?

The Bluehost basic plan is a shared web hosting plan offered by Bluehost that includes hosting for one website.

Does Bluehost Basic plan include email?

Yes, the Bluehost Basic plan includes 5 email accounts to use ending in your domain name.

Does Bluehost offer free plan?

Bluehost does not offer a free plan on its hosting services. You’ll receive a free domain name with your Bluehost purchase. You could utilize the Bluehost 30-day money-back guarantee on its hosting services as a Bluehost free trial and get your money back before the refund policy ends.

Can you change your plan on Bluehost?

Yes, you can change your plan with Bluehost. You can upgrade to one of the other plans by contacting Bluehost customer support or via the Bluehost control panel.

What is plus in Bluehost?

The Bluehost Plus plan is a shared hosting plan offered by Bluehost that allows you to host multiple websites.

How do I upgrade from Bluehost Basic to Plus?

Upgrading from the Basic to the Plus plan can be done by contacting Bluehost’s customer support team or in the Bluehost control panel of your hosting account.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, selecting the right Bluehost plan is a crucial decision that can have a significant impact on the success of your online presence.

By understanding the differences between the various hosting plans and considering factors such as pricing, performance, reliability, and additional features, you can make an informed decision that best suits your website’s needs and future growth.

Whether you’re a beginner launching your first blog, a small business owner looking to scale your online presence or an enterprise in need of dedicated resources, Bluehost has a plan to suit your needs and budget.

With a commitment to performance and reliability, as well as a range of additional features and benefits, Bluehost is a solid choice for hosting.

So, take the time to carefully consider your options and choose the Bluehost plan that will set your website up for success.

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